Concrete Block Thrown At Cop Car

OCEAN CITY – A Salisbury man was arrested early on Thanksgiving morning after throwing a concrete block at a police car while two Ocean City police officers were attempting to make a DUI arrest.

Two officers were attempting to arrest a man early last Thursday morning in the area of 16th Street and Baltimore Ave. The suspect was resisting arrest and the officers were trying to subdue him when they heard a loud crash behind them. The officers looked up in time to see a concrete block strike the bumper of the police car and skid across the street.

The officers involved with the DUI arrest saw a man running east toward the Boardwalk. Other officers assisted in pursuing the suspect, later identified as Caleb Ochse, 21, of Salisbury. Ochse was later arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, obstructing and hindering an arrest and malicious destruction of property.

Ochse was later released on his own recognizance. The damage sustained by the police car was minor. Ochse’s initial trial date has been set in for Dec. 31.

West OC Assault

WEST OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City man was arrested for assault after striking a woman whom he argued with about his girlfriend.

Shortly before midnight last Saturday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to the Wine Rack in West Ocean City for a reported fight in progress. Upon arrival, the troopers met with Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino, who was off-duty and witnessed the altercation. DiPino told the troopers Shannon Russell Marks, 38, of Ocean City, had assaulted Robin Mannix Revels, also of Ocean City.

DiPino witnessed Marks punch Revels in the face during an argument over Marks’ girlfriend. He was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and was taken before a District Court commissioner who released Marks on his own recognizance.

Drunk Boyfriend Throws Chair Through Window

WEST OCEAN CITY – An Ocean Pines man was arrested for malicious destruction of property early last Friday morning after throwing a chair through the window of his 16-year-old girlfriend’s bedroom.

Shortly after 4 a.m. last Friday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a residence on Marina Drive in West Ocean City. While en route, the troopers were advised the suspect, later identified as Mitchell Harris Boyer, 18, of Ocean Pines, was still on the property and was banging on windows of the residence trying to get inside.

By the time the troopers arrived, Boyer had fled the scene but was later found and arrested. The incident started hours earlier around 1 a.m. when Boyer arrived at the residence and demanded to see his 16-year-old girlfriend, who lived in the house. The girl’s parents told police Boyer appeared to be intoxicated and was banging on the windows of the front door. The girl’s father told Boyer to leave, and it appeared at first that he did, but the girl’s parents said they continued to hear banging noises around the residence for the next several hours.

Around 4 a.m., the girl heard a noise and opened her window to find Boyer standing on a chair in front of her window. When the girl told Boyer to leave, he threw the chair through the open window, damaging the blinds and striking the girl. The girl screamed alarming her parents. The window was shut, but Boyer continued to bang on other windows around the house.

A search of the area revealed Boyer walking down a driveway at a neighbor’s residence. He appeared intoxicated and was placed under arrest for malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct. He was released by a District Court commissioner on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Last week’s incident was the latest in a string of brushes with the law for the 18-year-old Boyer, who earlier this fall was sentenced to three years in jail for his part in a string of burglaries in Ocean Pines last January. In one instance, the boy broke into a residence on Pinehurst and stole the camcorder and the cans of soda. In another burglary, the boy broke into a home on Bramblewood Dr. and stole $10 in change. In yet another case, Boyer and his brother admitted going into a house on Sandyhook Road through an unlocked door in the garage and stealing $80 from a jar, but when they heard the owner returning, they kicked out a rear window and fled on foot. Boyer served 27 days and the rest of his three-year stint was suspended.

Shotgun Recovered In Holiday Traffic Stop

STOCKTON – A traffic stop for speeding last week yielded an arrest for possession of a dangerous deadly weapon by a convicted felon, who was the passenger in the car, and an arrest for driving under the influence for the driver.

Around 8:40 p.m. last Thursday, a Maryland State Police trooper stopped a vehicle for going 90 mph in a 30 mph zone along Train Station Rd. in Stockton. The driver, Linda Mills, 40, of Horntown, Va., was arrested for driving without a license and DUI. A search of the vehicle incident to the arrest revealed a sawed-off shotgun with a spent casing in the chamber on the back seat, eight rounds in a jacket pocket and a ski mask.

Riley Fuller, 50, of Stockton, was the passenger and the owner of the vehicle. He was charged with possession of a dangerous deadly weapon by a convicted felon and was later released on a $10,000 secured bond. Fuller has an extensive criminal record already in Worcester County.

Pot Mmm, Mmm Good

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City police last week arrested an Ocean Pines man on drug possession and other charges after the suspect tried to chew up and eat his marijuana during a traffic stop.

On Nov. 21, OCPD Officer Joseph Melena conducted a traffic stop in the area of 17th Street and Philadelphia Ave. after the suspect failed to make a left turn while driving in the far left lane several blocks earlier. As the officer approached the vehicle, he noticed the driver, later identified as Michael Douglas Higgins, 20, of Ocean Pines, reach down toward his feet and then sit back up in his seat.

When the officer asked Higgins for his license and registration, he noticed the suspect was very nervous and shaking more than the average person shakes during a routine traffic stop, the officer noted in his report.

The officer asked Higgins for his registration card once again and he noticed Higgins wasn’t talking to him but merely shaking his head up and down. When the officer asked Higgins if he was okay, Higgins just mumbled “mmmmm,hmmmm,” according to police reports.

The officer asked Higgins to open his mouth at which point the suspect shook his head from side to side and began chewing vigorously. The officer realized Higgins was trying to destroy evidence by eating it and ordered the suspect to spit out what he was eating and ordered him out of the vehicle. When he refused, Melena and an assisting officer attempted to get Higgins out of the car and were able to unbuckle his seat belt before the suspect attempted to roll the car window up on the officer’s arm.

Eventually, three officers were able to pull Higgins from the vehicle through the front driver’s side window. Melena noticed a strong odor of marijuana emanating from Higgins’ breath and person and noticed the green, leafy substance inside Higgins’ mouth. The officer continued to order Higgins to spit out the marijuana but he refused.

Once Higgins was out of the vehicle, he continued to resist arrest, struggling with officers as he rolled around on the ground. He was eventually subdued and charged with possession of marijuana, obstructing and hindering, and resisting arrest. He was released on his own recognizance and a January initial court appearance has been scheduled.

Ladders Swiped

WEST OCEAN CITY – Maryland State Police troopers this week are looking for the suspect or suspects who stole several extension ladders from a West Ocean City business.

On Nov. 21, MSP troopers responded to Anderson’s Electric on Route 50 in West Ocean City for a reported theft. Upon arrival, the troopers met with the complainant, Chuck Griffin, who told them three extension ladders that were chained together behind the building had been stolen. In addition, there was an undetermined amount of aluminum wire stolen. Griffin told police he had no information about a possible suspect or suspects. Anyone with information is urged to call the MSP Berlin barrack at 410-641-3101.

Car Leaves Road, Strikes Tree

BERLIN – A local man suffered minor injuries to his face and hands last week after swerving to miss a vehicle that pulled into his path and left the roadway before striking a tree.

On Nov. 21, MSP troopers from the Berlin barrack responded to a reported accident at the intersection of Routes 50 and 610. The investigation revealed a 2003 VW Jetta driven by Gerald Timmons Bunting was traveling west on Route 50 near the intersection of Route 610 when an unknown vehicle pulled out in front of him. Bunting swerved to the left to avoid a collision and subsequently drove off the roadway and into the median where it struck a tree.

Bunting was taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury where he was treated for minor injuries to his face and hands.

Driving No Bueno

BERLIN – A Virginia man was charged with negligent driving last weekend after his vehicle left Route 50 near Hall Rd. and flipped over on its roof.

Around 6:15 a.m. last Sunday, MSP troopers from the Berlin barrack responded to a reported accident on Route 50 near Hall Rd. involving an overturned vehicle. Upon arrival, the trooper observed a white passenger car about 50 feet off the roadway from the eastbound shoulder of Route 50. The vehicle’s occupants were located near the scene. The driver, identified as Manuel Joseu Rojas Bueno, 19, of Woodbridge, Va., was not injured. However, the 16-year-old female front seat passenger complained of chest pains from her seat belt and was transported to PRMC for evaluation. Bueno was cited for negligent driving.

Joy Ride For Teen

OCEAN PINES – A 14-year-old Ocean Pines boy is none the worse for wear this week after taking his parents’ car on a joy ride near the community last week.

On Nov. 19, Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies observed a vehicle obstructing traffic on Route 589 near Ocean Pines. The deputies stopped the car and found the driver to be a 14-year-old boy who had taken his parents’ vehicle without their permission and went out for a joy ride.

Deputies cited the juvenile for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driving without a license. He was charged and released to his parents, and the case was transferred to the Department of Juvenile Services.

Virginia Fugitive Nabbed In Worcester

SNOW HILL – A North Carolina man wanted on burglary and assault charges in Virginia was caught last week in Worcester County after a routine traffic stop.

Around 1:50 a.m. last Thursday, Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies stopped a vehicle for speeding along Route 113 in the area of Shad Landing. A warrant check showed the driver, Lance Rondale Jones, 29, of Elizabeth City, N.C., was wanted in Chesapeake City, Va. for burglary and assault. Jones was arrested without incident and is being held without bond in Worcester pending extradition to Virginia.

Possession Charges Stick

OCEAN CITY – A local man appeared in District Court Monday morning to plead guilty to possession of marijuana after being arrested for the offense last month.

Avi Sasi, 31, originally from Israel but currently a resident of Ocean City, pleaded guilty to the charges. On Oct. 22, police arrived at Sasi’s residence for a warrant search on another individual. Sasi informed police that the other individual no longer lived there, but while inside police saw marijuana. Sasi was then arrested for possession of marijuana.

Sasi was sentenced to probation before judgment with one year of unsupervised probation and $357.50 in court costs.

Eric Matthew Herr, 27, of Lancaster, Pa., appeared in District Court Monday to face the charges. On Sept. 14, around 9:30 p.m., OCPD officers pulled over a vehicle in the area of 7th Street and Baltimore Ave. The driver of the vehicle was not wearing a seat belt and was found to be driving with a suspended license.

Herr, who was the passenger of the vehicle, was asked to step out of the vehicle as well. A Tylenol box was found on the floor on the passenger side with a bag of marijuana in it. The bag contained 8.6 grams of marijuana. Herr was arrested for possession of marijuana.

Herr was found guilty and sentenced to probation before judgment with one year of unsupervised probation and $357.50 in court costs.

Fine For Baton Possession

OCEAN CITY – A local man appeared in District Court Monday morning to face charges of possession of a baton.

Joseph Tyler Shanahan, 20, of Ocean City, pleaded guilty to possession of a baton after being arrested for the offense last month. On Oct. 26, around 11 p.m., police performed registration and license checks on a vehicle and discovered that the driver, Shanahan, had a suspended license. Shanahan was pulled over and officers noticed a police baton in plain view. Shanahan was arrested for having the baton in his possession.

Shanahan’s attorney explained in court on Monday that the baton had been a gift from a police officer and that he had no intentions of using it as a weapon.

Shanahan was found guilty and sentenced to a fine of $357.50 and the weapon will be forfeited.

Prison For Police Assault

OCEAN CITY – A local man was sentenced to 45 days in the county jail this week after pleading guilty to charges of second-degree assault.

On Oct. 23, police found Timothy Vincent Sarter, 48, of Ocean City, passed out on a bench. After waking Sarter, he became aggressive and belligerent toward officers Melena and Snyder. Both officers attempted to calm Sarter, but he continued to become aggressive, striking Melena in the hand. Sarter then spit in Snyder’s face, which resulted in his arrest.

Sarter’s attorney explained that Sarter had been drinking earlier with friends and had had entirely too much to drink and passed out on a bus stop bench. When he awoke in jail, he had no recollection of what had happened.

Sarter, who has a past record, was sentenced to 45 days in the county jail with court costs waived.

Take The Bus Lewis

OCEAN CITY – The self-proclaimed “town drunk” got another stretch in the can this week when he pleaded guilty to an open container charge from last month, prompting the judge to suggest he take the bus ticket out of town that was offered to him.

Lewis Harvey, 49, of Ocean City, who has been in and out of court and jail several times in recent years for a variety of offenses, appeared in District Court Monday morning to face charges of open container and to plead guilty to the charges.

On Oct. 13, Harvey was spotted outside of the Royal Farms in Ocean City with a 40-ounce beer. He was then arrested for possession of an open container. Harvey has been in jail since the arrest.

Harvey’s attorney explained that Harvey frequently appears before the District Court for various offenses and that several of the employees at the jail had raised money to get Harvey a bus ticket to Baltimore so that he could straighten out his life.

Harvey was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for time served for 44 of those days. Judge Daniel Mumford encouraged Harvey to take the ticket and leave town after serving his time.

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